Another chapter and probably my longest in size. I hope you enjoy it!
The secret leader to team galactic was standing before me, looking at the Palkia statue. My mind went into overdrive. Do I confront him now? Tell Cynthia anything about him? What do I do?
"Excuse me, sir," a voice interrupts my thinking. It was Cyrus walking past me.
"Tch." Clicking my tongue, I contemplate how I'm going to work out combating Team Galactic. They're made out to be a smaller threat than they are. I think my only course of action can be training and being there to stop their attempts at controlling the legendary Pokémon. Of course, I might want to capture one someday… obviously not for nefarious purposes. In any case, I was just reminded why I need to train more heavily. Disaster is coming. Not just of the name of Tobias, but of the name Cyrus.
I turn from the stairs to face the Palkia statue. It looks truly magnificent. It's a decently large statue, however, I can tell that it's not exactly to scale. It looks to be a little smaller. This statue represents a Pokémon that is the reason legendary Pokémon are legendary. The three legendary beasts and three legendary birds don't even match the power of Palkia, even altogether. One of the most powerful Pokémon in existence, and it'll eventually get caught by Team Galactic. How terrifying.
Turning to leave, I take a walk through the town. Locals are starting to wake up and the streets are more crowded than my first walk through the town.
"Hey, you!" A man in a Pikachu suit ran up to me. "Are you a Pokémon trainer?"
"uh, yeah? Why?"
"Take a look at this," he says, handing me a flyer. "There's a nearby Pokémon tournament in Celestic Town. It's a yearly event done, partly in honor of Cynthia, but also for the history of the area. We host Pokémon battles as a way to attract people to our town. That way they can learn about the history of Celestic and can test their strength. Winner gets a Pokémon egg."
Hmm, everything this guy says is on the flyer as well. It gives more details on the location in Celestic Town and the rules. It's something worth checking out. "Thank you. I'll be sure to check it out." I walk past the guy after giving my thanks.
I'll probably go, it's on the way to Veilstone City so it's not like I'm going out of my way to attend. Who knows, there might be a powerful trainer to face. I'll invite Barry and see if he wants to come along, but he probably has his own plans.
Soon, the Pokémon center was in sight and with that, is another team change. Before dialing the number, I release Nidoking and Staravia. They'll be the ones going back. Once they materialize before me, I inform them of my plans. "Nidoking, Staravia, I'm sending you both back to Reggie. You two will have a big task ahead of you even if I'm not there for it." Turning my head to address Staravia, I begin delivering orders. "Staravia, your job will be to learn the move brave bird. It is a powerful flying type move that your evolution specializes in using. Reggie has a Staraptor who will be teaching you the move. I hope you'll make me proud."
Staravia nodded in understanding so I turned to Nidoking and gave his commands. "Nidoking, my faithful friend. You have sparred with Torterra and have proven you're on par, if not, a little weaker than Torterra. I hope you'll do well to improve on your own. Practice your moves, become more agile, build your strength. You can be the one to spar with the others. Magmar should've warned the others to train harder, so they should be ready for any sparring you need to do with them. I want you to take the lead on getting the others into tip top shape. Don't disappoint me. We've been training for one particular battle. I know that you know which battle I'm talking about, right?"
"Nidoking!" With a roar he affirmed his resolve. He looks into my eyes with complete understanding. He will do well to carry my will towards the others.
"Good. You're truly a Pokémon that goes above and beyond and for that, I thank you." Returning both, I dial the number for Reggie.
"ring, ring," the phone dials. Soon, Reggie picks up. "Hey, Paul! It hasn't been too long since you last called. How've you been?"
"I've been alright. I defeated Roark rather easily and I'm getting ready to face Gardenia today. Elekid evolved, not long after our last call and Staravia evolved just yesterday."
"Wow! You've been putting in some work then, huh."
"I've just been trying my best to get my Pokémon up to the task of winning the league."
"Geez, you're already thinking about the league. Don't you have to defeat the gyms first?"
"Yes, but I don't see what you're getting at." My face turns confused. Why would the gyms hinder me?
"Hahaha," Reggie laughs in response. "I guess you won't have to worry about the gyms. I'm sorry for laughing, but your reaction, heh, was just so you." Clearing his face of any last laughs, he asks, "Anyway, which Pokémon do you want me to send over?"
"that metal head of mine and Ninjask should be good. I hope they haven't caused too much trouble for you."
"Nah, they've been well-behaved. That Shinx of yours has been minding his own business, training with its electricity. Magmar has been informing your other Pokémon to kick their training into high gear. So, I'll send over those two. Anything else you want?"
"Yeah. I think Staravia is ready to learn brave bird."
"Oh, so soon? He just evolved the other day."
"He has, but he's been progressing fast. Murkrow needs to catch up if he's going to be as strong as Staravia."
"That's impressive. I'll teach your Staravia brave bird then if he doesn't quit in between."
"I'm sure he won't. He's my Pokémon after all."
"Alright then, send them over. By the way, I'll tell Murkrow about Staravia. Maybe he'll train harder in return."
"Maybe, Anyway, thanks for your help. See you later!"
"See you, Paul" ending the call, I place Nidoking's and Staravia's pokeballs in the transfer machine. The machine glows and in an instant, two new pokeballs are in their place. Perfect. Checking my Pokedex, I look at the time. It's about 9:30, the time Barry and I agreed on. Taking my newly transferred Pokémon, I began walking over to Eterna City gym. It's time to get the forest badge!
(-)
"Hey, Paul! Over here." Barry waved his arms trying to get my attention. "It's tiiiime," he mockingly sang.
"Alright. I hope you're ready to watch me win."
"Suuuure," He says with suspicion in his eyes. "Just soften Gardenia up for me, ok?"
I wave him off saying, "Yeah, yeah, whatever." Walking past him I prepare for another gym battle.
Walking up to the receptionist of the Eterna City gym, I registered for a gym battle. The receptionist told me that since there weren't any trainers registered for today, Gardenia would be ready for battle quickly. Barry registered after me of course, so Gardenia would also be prepared to be facing two trainers in a row.
After a few minutes of waiting in the lobby, the doors to the arena opened and out walked Gardenia from them. "Hey, Gardenia! You got two trainers who just scheduled for today," The receptionist informed Gardenia.
"Thanks, so those two, huh. Let's see what you're made of. Come on in!" Leading the two of us, we enter into the stadium. The field was a grassy plain with some trees on the side. This'll be easy. Barry walks to the bleachers on the side.
"I'll be your first challenger, Gardenia. I'll be sure to make that Forest Badge mine!"
"I won't give you one so easily. You better try your hardest!"
Standing at our respective sides, we wait for the receptionist, now referee, to announce the rules. "The Eterna City gym battle between Paul, the challenger, and Gardenia, the gym leader is about to get start! The battle will be 3 on 3 and as soon as all 3 Pokémon are unable to continue, the battle is over. Also, only the challenger may substitute Pokémon. Now let the battle begin!"
"Cherubi, let's go!" the little pink Cherry creature formed and gave its battle cry.
"Chimchar, stand by for battle!" Chimchar formed with a mischievous grin, fired up to fight. "I'm taking the first move! Chimchar use Flame Wheel around the stadium!" Chimchar obeys and in a fiery pace, he begins setting fire to the stadium.
"Interesting, Cherubi, use Solar Beam!" Cherubi absorbs the sun's rays and then fires a beam at Chimchar. Thankfully, Chimchar's flame wheel looks to be too fast for Cherubi to hit properly. Chimchar has almost completed his lap around the stadium when – "Cherubi, get in close and then use Solar Beam!" Now with distance issue being solved for accurately hitting Chimchar, Cherubi speedily runs towards Chimchar, ready to fire.
"Tch." That chlorophyll ability of Cherubi's is really working on Cherubi's speed. If I don't do anything, Chimchar will easily get hit. Cherubi primes its attack at Chimchar. "Heh, Chimchar, burrow into the ground with Dig!" Quickly. Escaping the blast of the Solar Beam, Chimchar digs his way into the ground.
"Cherubi, listen to the sound of the ground beneath you. If you can hear him then prepare yourself for a solar beam!" Cherubi prepared the blast of sun energy slowly, waiting for Chimchar to appear.
"I don't think your Cherubi, listening to Chimchar is going to work! Chimchar, do it!"
Cherubi, hearing things underneath it, jumped straight up. Unfortunately for Cherubi, the thing it heard was a blast of flamethrower from underneath. It blasted through the ground, straight up into the air, hitting Cherubi directly. "No, Cherubi!" With that one super effective hit, Cherubi was knocked out.
Returning Cherubi, Gardenia commented, "Your Chimchar is very powerful. To one shot Cherubi like that. Smart of you to burrow just enough under Cherubi for you to flamethrower Cherubi from underneath. It won't happen again." Trading Pokeballs, she throws one and says, "Bellossom, let's go!"
The flower Pokémon took to the stadium with raised arms, as if it were in a show. "This time, it won't be so easy, Bellossom, use Focus Punch!" Using the speed from the chlorophyll ability that Bellossom also happens to have, Bellossom is able to easily get in close to Chimchar. He's definitely going to get hit, but not without dealing some damage in return!
"Chimchar, use Flame Wheel!" rolling himself towards the fast Bellossom, Chimchar conceals himself in a fiery ball. The Focus Punch goes through, hitting Chimchar directly, knocking him to the wall of the stadium. Bellossom was burned a little by the hit though because of the Flame Wheel. "Chimchar, are you alright?" Chimchar gets up from the ground and gives me a grin. He's hurt, but not out. Good, we can do this. "Chimchar, to the trees!" Racing away from the grassy plain, Chimchar takes to the convenient branches of the trees in the stadium. A perfect field for Chimchar to navigate.
"It won't work! Bellossom, use Focus Punch, one more time!" Jumping from tree to tree, Chimchar and Bellossom were in a match of who can maneuver through the trees better." Chimchar taunted Bellossom after every tree, but it doesn't look to have an effect on Bellossom. After a few more hops from tree to tree, Bellossom, in her haste to hit Chimchar, slipped off the edge of a branch.
"Chimchar, now's your chance! Use Flamethrower!" Chimchar, readied his cheeks full of fire and then blasted Bellossom, landing a direct hit. Landing onto the grassy plains, they stared at each other. Despite being hit twice with fire, Bellossom looked fine. It can take some damage.
"Bellossom, use Giga Drain!" Before I could react, Chimchar was in the vines of Bellossom. Energy began to be zapped out of Chimchar before my eyes. This can't continue. I have to do something!
"Chimchar use Flame Wheel to roll out of the vines." With the vines of Giga Drain, holding Chimchar in place, he tried to turn himself into the Flame Wheel. Slowly, but surely, Chimchar began to roll. A bright light shone when he rolled. His flame wheel shot straight out from the vines, hitting Bellossom and knocking it out.
"Mon-ferno!" The Pokémon that appeared out of the flame wheel was not Chimchar, but Monferno, the evolved form!
"You've done it. You're this much stronger, Monferno. I'm proud of you." Monferno smiled in response, that mischievous grin coming from ear to ear. "I'm glad for your evolution but return for now." Raising the Pokeball, I recall him. Gardenia does the same to Bellossom.
"You know, it's been a while since I've had a challenger like you! Try to defeat this one! Roserade, let's go! The fully evolved flower Pokémon stood proudly before Gardenia. Switching out Monferno's Pokeball for another, I call out "Croagunk, stand by for battle!" The Poisoned mouth Pokémon appeared with his relaxed stance. Looking at the work done by Monferno, I know that Croagunk has this battle in the bag.
"This battle isn't over yet! Roserade use Magical Leaf!" weirdly covered leaves scattered from Roserade and took its sites on Croagunk.
"Croagunk, use Mud Bomb!" If you can't dodge an attack, cancelling it out is the way to go! A giant ball of dirt appeared before Croagunk's fingertips and shot towards the Magical Leaf. A lot of the leaves were destroyed as a result. Unfortunately, some stray leaves came around and hit Croagunk. He took little damage from it though.
"Get in close and use Revenge, Croagunk!" Croagunk hopped side to side, moving forward close and closer to Roserade.
"Roserade, you gotta dodge it!" Roserade was unable to, however for one simple reason. "Tch, the fire."
"Yes, nice of Monferno to set that up, wasn't it?"
"What? From the very first turn then-"
"I've been planning for this to happen. Thanks for noticing. Now with nowhere to dodge to, Roserade is wide open. Do it, Croagunk!" With a swing of Croagunk's fist, Roserade was given an uppercut with added damage due to the earlier Magical Leaf. "Finish Roserade with your Poison Jab, Croagunk!"
Jumping up, Croagunk positions himself above Roserade who was still flying from being hit up and then slams Roserade down to the fiery ground with a poisonous jab to the stomach. With that two-hit combo, Roserade was knocked out.
"Roserade is unable to battle. The winner is Croagunk and Paul, the challenger!" the referee said.
Leaving both of our respective sides, we meet in front of the bleachers. "That was an amazing battle. I learned a lot! If we ever battle again, I'll be sure to not fall for your traps. Here's your Forest badge!" She said, presenting the green badge.
"I'll be sure to get more creative with my strategy if we ever battle again," I say grabbing the badge. "Thanks for the badge."
"You earned it," she said with a mock salute. Turning to Barry, she said, "After, say a 10-minute break, we'll battle, alright?"
"Sure," Barry nodded.
Barry and I walked out to the lobby, both of us silent just taking in the events of the battle. We both sit down on the bench in the lobby and sit for a few minutes in contemplation. "So," Barry begins, "You really showed off, huh."
"Pfft, as if. It was just the most efficient for the Pokémon I planned to use."
"Who did you plan to use?"
"…Chimchar and Croagunk."
"So, I guess, things worked out well for you, huh?"
"I guess so…"
Getting up from the bench, Barry looks off at the stadium door. "I'll have to work twice as hard if I want to catch up to you, so watch me as I surpass you!" Walking away into the stadium, Barry walks into the stadium, prepared for his challenge!
(-)
Barry and Gardenia stand across from each other. The referee gave the rules once again. A battle was underway.
"Let the battle begin!"
"Let's get going, Skarmory" So he's going for the type advantage like me.
"Turtwig, let's go!" Barry definitely has the advantage, but if I remember right, that Turtwig is going to be really fast.
"Skarmory, use Air Cutter." Skarmory shoots out powerful blades. Ah, so he's attempting to testing the Turtwig out before doing close range, smart.
Gardenia gives the command to dodge and just like I remembered, Turtwig was super-fast and dodged it easily. Barry gave a command to get in closer, telling Skarmory to use Steel Wing. Skarmory, like a bullet, shot towards Turtwig with its wings hardened. Gardenia surprisingly gave Turtwig the command to jump and land on Skarmory and that's exactly what happened. Turtwig was on top of Skarmory, biting him. Skarmory is in a tough stop.
"Skarmory, use Metal Sound!" Ingenious. The horrid sound of scraping metal was emitted from Skarmory and Turtwig was given a full blast of it. Turtwig's grip on Skarmory slipped and so he fell off of Skarmory. "Now, Skarmory use Spikes and then Agility!" oh? So, he's planning for later, setting Gardenia's Pokémon up for a world of hurt. "Get in close and use Air Cutter, one more time!" With the increased speed of Agility, Skarmory easily flew towards Turtwig, who was struggling to stand up after falling, and fired an Air Cutter at close range towards Turtwig. Turtwig being given no time at all to dodge, was knocked out from that one powerful attack.
"That was some nice strategy you had. It's time for me to stop playing around!" Recalling Turtwig and getting out another Pokeball, Gardenia yelled, "Vileplume, let's go!" Vileplume looks to be well-trained. It may be called the flower Pokémon, but I doubt it's as delicate as one. It took the Spike attack and came out looking undamaged.
"Skarmory, use Air Cutter!" Firing an array of wind blades, Skarmory shot them out extending its wings.
"Vileplume, Solar Beam." Thanks to the sun's rays, Vileplume quickly fired a beam of it, blasting through all the air cutters and hitting the Skarmory who had no time to dodge. Thankfully for Barry, it looks like Skarmory is fine after the hit. One more of those, however, might be the end for Skarmory.
"Skarmory, use Agility!" He's trying to match Vileplume's chlorophyll and Solar Beam's speed with Skarmory's. This is getting intense.
"Vileplume, use Stun Spore!" a blast of powder blasted straight up into the air. Skarmory had no time to react once and again and as a result, Skarmory is paralyzed. "Vileplume, finish him off with Petal Dance!" As if a storm of flowers were there, the petals flew into Skarmory, who was too paralyzed to move, knocking him out.
"Tch." Barry clicked his tongue as he recalled Skarmory. Trading the Pokeballs on his belt, he throws a Pokeball and yells, "Let's get going, Staravia." Another flying type. I wonder what will be different about this one.
"It's all the same. Another flying type to shoot out of the sky! Vileplume, use Solar Beam!"
"Staravia, use Double Team and get in close!" Copies of Staravia covered the field and the blast of solar beam seemingly hit a copy. The rest of the copies swarmed Vileplume.
"Vileplume, use Stun Spore!" Vileplume unleashed a ton of powdery paralysis into the air, getting all the copies, noticeably, missing one Staravia in the air.
"Staravia, use Whirlwind and knock the Stun Spore back onto Vileplume!"
"What!" Gardenia cried out. Before her eyes, the stun spore was blasted back onto Vileplume, stunning it.
"Don't let up! Use Aerial Ace!" Diving down with a bright light of energy, Staravia hit the stunned Pokémon. Vileplume couldn't do anything. The paralysis came in every now and then and it hindered its reaction time. "One more aerial ace, Staravia!" Diving down once more, Staravia readied its body to hit Vileplume-
"Return, Vileplume!" Gardenia recalled Vileplume early, forfeiting it from the match. "I hope you'll take a lesson from this and do the same if your Pokémon is just going to get needlessly hurt." Switching Pokeballs, Gardenia releases her final Pokémon. "Victreebel, let's go!"
Taking the initiative, Gardenia started the battle, saying, "Victreebel, use Vine Whip and grab Staravia!"
"Staravia, dodge it!" Staravia flew around, trying to not get caught up in the vines, but the vines, along with another chlorophyll ability meant that they were fast. The vines somehow caught up and wrapped around Staravia, immobilizing Staravia.
"Now use your Sleep Powder!" Bringing in Staravia close, Vileplume spewed its drowsy pores at Staravia. Staravia was unable to do anything as its eyes began to droop and then after a few seconds, its movements stopped. Staravia had fallen asleep!
"Staravia, you have to wake up!"
"He won't be waking up for a while thanks to sleep powder. Now Victreebel, use leaf storm!"
Immobilized by sleep, Staravia took the full force of the leaf storm, getting injured severely. Barry tried again, "You have to wake up now Staravia!"
"Victreebel, use Energy Ball!" Victreebel, again fired a powerful attack on Staravia, hurting it severely. "Sometimes, Barry, you have to know when to give up. Victreebel finish it with one more Leaf Storm!"
A horde of leaves started to form in the air. Barry tried one, final time, "Staravia, wake uuuuup!" With that final push, Staravia, miraculously awoke, and took to the air. "Amazing Staravia! Use Double Team and then Endeavor!" Using the copies to dodge the Leaf Storm, Staravia flew through the sky, taking all the damage given to it and giving all of it to Victreebel.
Victreebel was hurt severely by it, noticeably injured and tired. Staravia, after that last push of his, succumbed to his injuries and was knocked out. Recalling his Pokémon, Barry smiled at his Pokeball. "You did a good job, have a long rest," he said to Staravia. Getting out his final Pokémon, Barry calls out, "Let's get going, Tyrogue!" Releasing the small fighting Pokémon, Barry doesn't waste any time.
"Tyrogue, use Earthquake!"
"What/ Wha/ Oh no!" could be heard from the referee, I, and Gardenia, respectively.
The small Pokémon readied his feet and then stomped the ground, making a large crack through the ground that swallowed Victreebel. How did Barry teach his Tyrogue such a powerful move? How scary.
With no stamina left to swing out with its vines, Victreebel, could do nothing but fall. Gardenia, noticing her Pokémon's exhaustion, recalled it, giving the win to Barry. The referee did her job of announcing who won, Gardenia gave the badge to Barry, and Barry and I exited the gym.
Looking to the gym, I speak up, "I think this is where we part ways, unless you want to travel to Celestic Town for that tournament that's happening," I say holding up the flier.
"Oh, that. I got one too from a man earlier. I'm going to have to give it a pass. I'm heading over to Snowpoint city!"
"So, this is where we part ways. I had a fun time with you as a traveling companion," I say holding out my hand.
"Me too. I learned so much from you. We'll meet again," he says grasping my hand with his, completing the handshake.
"Later," I say turning to the direction of a restaurant. Before I set out for Celestic Town, I need to reward my Pokémon and myself with some good grub!
So, Barry and Paul part ways after both getting the Forrest badge! Like it? Hate it? Tell me all about it in the reviews!